Megasyrphus erraticus

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Megasyrphus erraticus
Eriozona erratica1.jpg
Megasyrphus erraticus male
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Diptera
Family:
Syrphidae
Genus:
Megasyrphus
Species:
M. erraticus
Binomial name
Megasyrphus erraticus
Synonyms

Megasyrphus erraticus is a Holarctic species of hoverfly associated with mature conifer woodlands and plantations. [2]

Contents

Description

External images For terms see Morphology of Diptera
M. erraticus is a large (10–15 mm. wing length) wasp mimic with a yellow pattern. The thoracic dorsum is blackish and shiny, in contrast to the greenish dorsum of most species of Syrphus and Epistrophe. Without long, dense hairs. Scutellum yellow. Wing clear, without dark patch. Face with a black middle line. Frontal lunule black. Hind tibiae with black ring after middle. [3] [4] [5] [6] The male genitalia and larva is figured by Dusek and Laska (1967). [7]

Distribution

Palaearctic and Nearctic. Fennoscandia South to the Pyrenees. Ireland East to Central Europe and the Alps and Apennines (becomes increasingly montane toward southern parts of its range). Then European Russia and the Russian Far East, Siberia to the Pacific coast (Sakhalin and Kunashir islands) Also in the Himalayas (Nepal). In North America from Alaska to Mexico. [8] [9] [10]

Habitat in France Chalmont 076.JPG
Habitat in France

Biology

Habitat is Abies, Picea, Pinus forest. [11] Arboreal, descending to visit flowers including yellow composites; white umbellifers, Bellis, Calluna vulgaris, Cardamine pratense, Cirsium vulgare, Crataegus, Epilobium angustifolium, Euphorbia hyberna, Geranium, Lonicera periclymenum, Prunus spinosa, Ranunculus, Rubus idaeus, Rubus fruticosus, Salix, Sorbus aucuparia, Stellaria, Veronica, Viburnum. [12] The flight period is May to July. The larvae feed on aphids.

Related Research Articles

<i>Syrphus ribesii</i> Species of fly

Syrphus ribesii is a very common Holarctic species of hoverfly. Its larvae feed on aphids. In common with many other species of hoverfly, males have the eyes meeting on the top of the head, whilst females have their eyes widely separated.

<i>Myathropa florea</i> Species of fly

Myathropa florea is a very common European and North African species of hoverfly. Adults may be seen on flowers from May to September. It is of a similar size to the common drone fly, but Myathropa are generally more yellow, with two light bands to the thorax, interrupted with a black central smudge. In museum specimens, any yellow colour soon fades to brown after death. Like most Eristalini, Myathropa are rather variable in size, shape and colour.

<i>Leucozona glaucia</i> Species of fly

Leucozona glaucia, the Pale-saddled Leucozona is a Palearctic hoverfly. Larvae feed on ground layer aphids. Adults are usually seen visiting flowers.

<i>Eupeodes corollae</i> Species of fly

Eupeodes corollae is a very common European species of hoverfly. Adults are 6–11 millimetres (0.24–0.43 in) in body length. Males and females have different marking on the abdomen; males have square commas on tergites 3 and 4, whereas females have narrow commas. Larvae feed on aphids. This species has been used experimentally in glasshouses as a method of aphid control, and to control scale insects and aphids in fruit plantations. They were found to be partial to the fruit, eating more fruit than aphids.

<i>Eupeodes luniger</i> Species of fly

Eupeodes luniger is a common species of hoverfly.

<i>Eupeodes latifasciatus</i> Species of fly

Eupeodes latifasciatus is a species of hoverfly. Adults feed on nectar; larvae feed on aphids and scale insects.

<i>Dasysyrphus albostriatus</i> Species of fly

Dasysyrphus albostriatus is a Palearctic species of hoverfly.

<i>Dasysyrphus venustus</i> Species of fly

Dasysyrphus venustus is a Holarctic species of hoverfly.

<i>Epistrophe eligans</i> Species of fly

Epistrophe eligans is a European species of hoverfly.

<i>Leucozona lucorum</i> Species of hoverfly

Leucozona lucorum is a Palearctic and Nearctic species of hoverfly.

<i>Meliscaeva cinctella</i> Species of fly

Meliscaeva cinctella is a Holarctic species of hoverfly.

<i>Xanthandrus comtus</i> Species of fly

Xanthandrus comtus is a species of hoverfly. It is found in the Palearctic.

<i>Melangyna cincta</i> Species of fly

Melangyna cincta is a European species of hoverfly. This species has a muddled taxonomic history. Stubbs & Falk treat it as a member of the genus Melangyna. Other sources place it in Meligramma or Fagisyrphus.

<i>Syrphus torvus</i> Species of insect

Syrphus torvus is a common species of hoverfly found in the Holarctic. The adults feed on pollen and nectar, but the larvae feed on aphids.

<i>Syrphus vitripennis</i> Species of hoverfly

Syrphus vitripennis is a very common European and North American species of hoverfly. Its larvae feed on aphids

<i>Epistrophe grossulariae</i> Species of fly

Epistrophe grossulariae is a Holarctic species of hoverfly.

<i>Meligramma guttata</i> Species of fly

Meligramma guttata is a Holarctic species of hoverfly.

<i>Didea alneti</i> Species of fly

Didea alneti is a Holarctic species of hoverfly.

<i>Epistrophe nitidicollis</i> Species of fly

Epistrophe nitidicollis is a European and North American species of hoverfly.

Chrysotoxum fasciatum is a species of Holarctic hoverfly.

References

  1. ↑ Chandler, Peter J. (December 2011). "Corrections and changes to the Diptera Checklist". Dipterists Digest (Print). Second Series. Dipterists Forum. 18 (2): 203–204. ISSN   0953-7260.
  2. ↑ Stubbs, Alan E. & Falk, Steven J. (1983). British Hoverflies: An Illustrated Identification Guide. British Entomological & Natural History Society. pp. 253, xv.
  3. ↑ Van Veen, M. (2004). Hoverflies of Northwest Europe: identification keys to the Syrphidae. 256pp. KNNV Publishing, Utrecht. addendum
  4. ↑ Van der Goot, V.S. (1981). De zweefvliegen van Noordwest - Europa en Europees Rusland, in het bijzonder van de Benelux. KNNV, Uitgave no.32: 275pp. Amsterdam.
  5. ↑ Bei-Bienko, G.Y. & Steyskal, G.C. (1988). Keys to the Insects of the European Part of the USSR, Volume V: Diptera and Siphonaptera, Part I. Amerind Publishing Co., New Delhi. ISBN   81-205-0080-6.
  6. ↑ Coe, R.L. (1953). Diptera: Syrphidae. Handbks. ident. Br. insects, 10(1): 1-98. R. ent. Soc. London. pdf
  7. ↑ Dusek, J. & Laska, P. (1967). Versuch zum aufbau eines Naturlichen Systems mitteleuropaischer Arten der Unterfamilie Syrphinae (Diptera). Acta sc. nat. Brno 1: 349-390.
  8. ↑ Fauna Europaea
  9. ↑ Peck, L.V. (1988). Syrphidae. In: Soos, A. & Papp, L. (eds.) Catalogue of Palaearctic Diptera 8: 11-230. Akad. Kiado, Budapest.
  10. ↑ Vockeroth, J.R. (1992). The Flower Flies of the Subfamily Syrphinae of Canada, Alaska, and Greenland (Diptera: Syrphidae). Part 18. The Insects and Arachnids of Canada (PDF). Ottawa, Ontario: Canadian Government Pub Centre. pp. 1–456. ISBN   0-660-13830-1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-06-15. Retrieved 2017-01-17.
  11. ↑ Speight, M.C.D. (2011). "Species accounts of European Syrphidae (Diptera)" (PDF). Syrph the Net, the database of European Syrphidae. 65: 285pp.
  12. ↑ de Buck, N. (1990). Bloembezoek en bestuivingsecologie van Zweefvliegen (Diptera, Syrphidae) in het bijzonder voor België. Doc. Trav. IRSNB, no.60, 1-167.


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